Intermittent grip device



July 3, 1934.

o. R. HERMANEK INTERMITTENT GRIP 'DEVICE Filed Jan. 23, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 2 f y horneys mea-mm f @www Patented July 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE INTERMITTENT GRIP DEVICE @tto R. Hermanek, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application `lanuary 23 3 Claims.

My invention relates to coin controlled dispensing mechanisms.

An object of my invention is to provide a mechanism which will produce unidirectional rotation of an operating shaft when the mechanism is actuated by a coin detecting actuating device which is rotated through a predetermined angle in a forward direction and then is rotated in a reverse direction to its initial or normal position.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism including means for preventing reverse rotation of a rotary ejecting device and means limiting the angle through which the ejecting device will be forwardly rotated during each operation thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference w characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a partially broken away front view of a dispensing machine in which my invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View of my mechanism taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of my mechanism Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 with the parts thereof shown' in one of the two possible normal positions;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same portion vof my mechanism shown in Fig. 6 and taken dotted lines in a position other than normal or operated positions;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the c oin detecting actuating device used with my operating mechanism; l Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional View of the coin detecting actuating device taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a partially broken away rear View of the coin detecting actuating device, and

Fig. 1l is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, the dispensing man chine is housed in a cabinet or housing 12. In the embodiment shown, pairs of vertical guides 13 are provided for four vertically arranged stacks of packages 14. YA pair of supports 15, of L-shaped cross section, are respectively attached to the lower ends of each pair of guides 13 to support the stack of packages 14 located between the guides. Each support 15 is disposed with 1933, Serial No. 652,989

the lower and horizontal leg of the L such a distan-.ce below the lower ends of the guides 13 that the whole of the lowermost package 14 of the stack is disposed below the lower ends of the guides and is free for forward movement with respect to the supports 15.

A shaft 16, located somewhat below the level of the supports 15, extends horizontally throughout the length of the row of guides 13 and is journaled near its respective ends in portions of a bracket 17 which supports the series of guides and is secured to the lower portion of the cabinet 12. arms 18, one of the series being aligned with each pair of guides 13, are rigidly mounted on the shaft 16, the individual arms of the series being respectively mounted at different angles 90 degrees apart.

A bevel gear 19 is non-revolubly mounted on one end of the shaft 16 and meshes with a second bevel gear 20 which is mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 21. The lower portion of the shaft 21 is journaled in a portion 17a of bracket 17.

The open upper portion of a hopper 22 is located below and forwardly of the supports 15 to receive packages ejected forwardly from the supports by the ejecting arms 18. The lower and forward portion of the hopper 22 communicates through an opening in the front side of the cabinet 12 with a receiving trough 23 located on the outside of the cabinet.

The horizontal arm of an L-shaped bracket 24 is attached to the upper portion of the cabinet 12 with the remaining arm of the L extending downwardly as best shown in Fig. 3. The horizontal arm of a second L-shaped bracket 25 is secured to the horizontal arm of the bracket 24 somewhat rearwardly of the depending arm of the first mentioned bracket 24 as shown in Fig. 3. A third bracket 26 of substantially Z-shape is similarly secured to the rst mentioned bracket 24 rearwardly of the bracket 25 as shown in Fig. 3. The Z-shaped bracket 26 has an upturned portion at the lower and forward part thereof. The three brackets 24, 25 and 26,

joined together as described above constitute a frame for supporting part of my mechanism.

The upper end of the vertical shaft 21 is journaled in suitable apertures in the Z-shaped bracket 26 and the horizontal portion of the bracket 24 as best shown in Fig. 3. A short horizontal shaft 27 is journaled in the brackets 25 and 26 and carries a bevel pinion 28 meshed with a bevel gear 29 which is mounted on the vertical shaft 21 at a point above the level of the short shaft 27. The bevel gear 29 has twice as many teeth as the bevel pinion 28.

A hubbed disk 30 is rigidly secured to the shaft 27 just forward of the bracket 25. Theshaft A series of four merchandise ejectingV 27 extends a short distance forwardly from the forward side of the disk 30 and is of reduced diameter in that portion extending forwardly of the disk. Y A short horizontal shaft 31 has a cylindrical recess in its inner end receiving the reduced portion of shaft 27 and accordingly, shaft 3l is revolubly and concentrically mounted on the forward portion of the shaft 27. Shaft 31 extends through and is journaled in the bracket 24. The forward end of the shaft 31 extends somewhat forwardly of the bracket 24 and is cut away to form a tongue 31a having two diametrically located parallel flat surfaces disposed parallel to the axis of the shaft 31 in symmetrical relation thereto.

-Y The disk 30 is cut away at diametrically opposite portions of its outer edge to form notches 30a shaped as shown in Fig. 5. A pair of short arcuate slots, or apertures, 30D through the disk 30 are located diametrically opposite each other in symmetrical relation to and a short distance outwardly of the hub of the disk 30 as shown in Fig. 6. The pair of slots 30D may be disposed at approximately right angles to the pair of notches 30a, as shown.

A pawl lever 32, carrying a tooth 32a, is pivotally mounted on the front face of the disk 30 by means of a screw 32h. A helical tension spring 33 is connected between the outer or vfree end of the lever 32 and a pin 34 which projects from the face of the disk to urge the lever 32 inwardly.

A generally rectangular plate 35 is slidably retained by a guide member 36 against the front side of the bracket 25 and is free to slide toward and away from the hub of the disk 30. A helical tension spring 37 is connected between a pin 38, projecting forwardly from the inner por- `tion of the plate 35, and a pin 39, projecting' Y forwardly from the bracket 25, to urge the plate 35 toward the hub of the disk 30. Near its inner end the` plate 35 carries a forwardly projecting pin 40 upon which a roller 4l, adapted and located to engage one or the other of the notches 30a of the disk so, is revoiubiy mounted.

A hubbed ratchet 42 having a pair of diametrically located teeth 42a, each adapted to be engaged by the pawl tooth 32a, is rigidly mounted on the shaft 31 immediately forward of the disk 30 with the teeth 42a approximately aligned with the notches 30a of the disk 30. Secured to the front face of the ratchet 42 is a cam 43 having a forwardly facing helical cam surface, this surface starting at one end thereof iiush with the front face of the ratchet and continuously increasing in height through an angle of 180 degrees and then dropping immediately to a point iiush with the face of the ratchet. As viewed in Figs 6 and 7, the cam 43 increases in height in a clockwise direction.

A guide 44, having a cylindrical aperture therethrough is mounted in an aperture in the bracket 24 at one side of and slightly below the shaft 31. A pin 45 adapted to engage within `one or the other of the slots 30h of the disk 30 is slidably retained in the guide 44 and extends therefrom toward the disk 30. A flange 46 adapted to be engaged by the cam surface 43 is formed on the pin 45 somewhat forwardly of the rear end of the pin. A helical compression spring 47 is disposed about the pin 45 between the flange 46 and the rear end of the guide 44 to urge the pin toward the disk 30.

The driving shaft 3l of my device may be operated by any actuating device which will impart rotation to it iirst in one direction and then in the other. However, the notched rearward end of the shaft 51 of a coin controlled actuating device A, generally similar to that described in Reissue Patent No. 14,905, granted on July 6th, 1920 to A. D. Antoine and C. C. Travis, is shown in the drawings operatively engaged with the forward end of the shaft 3l.

The device A includes a casing 48, a back plate 49, an operating handle 50, an operating shaft 51, a check entrance opening 52, and a notched disk 53 similar to those described in the above identified patent and other parts to be described subsequently.

A flat bar 54, having a short portion 55 of increased width at one end thereof is retained ina suitably shaped recess in the inner side of theY forward portion of the casing 48 as best shown in Figs. l0 and ll. An arched flat spring 56 is disposed between the bar 54 and the botom of the recess to urge the bar 54 rearwardly. At the end of the bar 54 opposite the enlarged portion 55 is a rearwardly turned portion 57 which normallyv extends into the coin receiving seat of the disk 53, as shown, to prevent rotation of the disk from its normal position. portion is sloping to permit placing a coin in the coin seat of the disk 53 to wedge the bar 54 forwardly to a position wherein the turned portion 57 will no longer engage the disk 5,3 and hence will permit rotation of the disk. The construction described above in this paragraph is old in the art and is not claimed. This construction has the disadvantage that a worn or thin coin will be urged rearwardly by the spring 56 and will not force the bar 54 forwardly to a suflicient extent to disengage the turned portion 57 from the disk 53 to permit rotation of the disk. To eliminatethis disadvantage I provide the following elements. lIhe upper portion of the back plate is provided with a notch 58 aligned with the coin receiving opening. A camming member 59, disposed in the notch 58, has a sloping face extending `from the upper rear portion thereof downwardly and forwardly to the middle of its forward edge. The medial portion of an arched flat spring is riveted or otherwise secured to the rear of the camming member 59 as shown in Fig. 9. A shallow housing 6l, secured to the rear side of the back plate 49 by screws or other means, encloses the spring 60 and places it under tension to urge the camming member 59 forwardly to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 9. A coin inserted in the coin receiving notch is wedged between the camming member 59 and the inner side of the forward portion of the casing 48 and is held forwardly against the casing 48 by the spring pressed camming member 59 so as to positively force the bar 54 forwardly to disengage turned portion 57 of the bar 54 from the disk 53 regardless of the thickness of the coin.

Operation In normal use the respective pairs of guides will each be at least partially loaded with the packages 14 tobe dispensed.

When a coin of the proper denomination is placed in the coin receiving opening of the coin controlled actuating device A, as explained in Patent No. 14,905, the rearwardly turned portion 57 of the bar 54 will be cammed out of engagement with the disk 53 and the rotating parts of the device A thus become free for rotation clockwise (as the machine is faced) through an angle of 180 degrees followed by retrograde, counter- The rear side of this turnedV clockwise rotation throughthesame angle, after which the device is automatically restrained from further rotation until another coin is inserted. As the handle 50 of the device A is turned to effect the clockwise rotation referred to above, the operating shaft 51 of the device A and the driving shaft 31 will be similarly rotated.

Prior to the clockwise rotation of 180 degrees the parts of the mechanism are disposed either in the normal position shown in Fig. 6 or in the other possible normal position represented by the disposition of all parts except the ratchet and the cam in Fig. 7. The ratchet and cam would normally be in positions 186 degrees from those shown in this other possible normal position. The roller 41 is engaged with one of the notches 30a in the disk 30, one of the teeth 42a of the ratchet 42 is engaged with the pawl tooth 32a on the pawl 32, and the flange 46 on the slidable pin 45 is engaged by the highest portion of the helical cam 43 to hold the pin 45 out of the slots 3017.

As clockwise rotation (as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7) of the driving shaft 31 takes place this rotation is transmitted to the disk 30 and the driven shaft 27 through the ratchet tooth 42a and the pawl 32. The roller 41 is forced upwardly against the tension of the spring 37 by the sloping side of the notch 30a within which the roller has been disposed. As rotation progresses the portion of the helical cam 43 engaging the flange 46 continually diminishes in thickness and hence allows the pin to be pushed further and further toward the disk 30 by the spring 47 until near the end of the 160 degrees 'of rotation the inner end of the pin is in contact with the front face of the disk 30 and the cam has left contact with the fiange 46. Just preceding completion of 180 degrees of rotation the leading end of one of the slots 36h becomes aligned with the pin 45 and the pin is projected into the slot by the spring 47. As 180 degrees of rotation is completed, the trailing end of the slot 30h is engaged by one side of the pin 45 to prevent further rotation of the disk 30 and the roller 41 is forced by the spring 37 into the other notch 30a which is then in alignment with the roller. The coin controlled actuating device A has therein means preventing more than 180 degrees of rotation of its operating shaft. After l starting from the normal positions of parts shown rotation of the shaft 31 the ratchet tooth 42a, of course, leaves contact with the pawl 32a and at the termination of 180 degrees of reverse rotation the opposite or remaining one of the two ratchet teeth 42a drops into engagement with u ythe pawl 32a preparatory for a subsequent operation of the device. As the reverse rotation takes place the cam 43 is rotated to its initial position wherein the thickest part thereof engages the flange 46 to hold the pin 45 in retracted position against the pressure of the spring 47.

From the above it is seen that each rotation of the operating handle 50 of the coin controlled actuating device A through 180 degrees in a 'iclockwise direction, followed by 180 degrees reverse rotation' in a 'counter-clockwisedirection will rotate the shaft 27, upon which the disk 3-3 is mounted, through 180 degrees in a forward or clockwise direction, but will not rotate the shaft 27 in a reverse direction.

Rotation of the shaft 27 is transmitted through the bevel pinion 28 and the bevel gear 29 to the vertical shaft 2i and through the bevel gears 26 and 19 to the horizontal shaft 16. Since the gear 29 has twice 'as many teeth as the pinion 28 and the gears 19 and 20 have a one to one ratio, each 160 degree rotation of the shaft 27 will produce a degree rotation of the shaft 16. The shaft 16 and the ejecting arms will be rotated in a cciL'lter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Each 90 degree rotation will cause one of the ejecting arms to ,push a package from its position at the bottom of the corresponding stack of packages forwardly from the supports 15 to drop into the hopper 22 from whence it will slide into the trough 23. Since the four ejecting arms are mounted 90 degrees apart on the shaft 16, successive operations of the machine will result in consecutive ejections of packages from the several stacks in a predetermined recurring cycle.

It is obvious that various numbers of stacks of packages may be accommodated by my machine and that the machine may be readily adapted for such accommodation. For example, if two stacks were to be accommodated, only two ejecting arms, disposed 180 degrees apart would be mounted on the shaft 16 and the gears 28 and 29 would have a one to one ratio, so as to rotate the shaft 16 through 180 degrees per operation.

It is apparent that I have invented a novel, simple, rugged and inexpensive mechanism for dispensing packages.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the scope of my invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

l. In a clutch mechanism, a frame, a driving shaft journaled in said frame, means adapted for rotating said driving shaft through a predetermined angle alternately in forward and reverse directions, a driven shaft suitably journaled, means connecting said shafts to transmit only forward rotation from said driving shaft to said driven shaft, a disk rigidly mounted on said driven shaft, an apertured portion in said disk, a pin disposed parallel to said driven shaft and mounted in said frame for longitudinal sliding movement to engage within said apertured portion when in projected position, resilient means for urging said pin toward its projected position, said apertured portion being aligned to receive said pin when forward rotation through said predetermined angle is completed, means actuated by said driving shaft for retracting said pin as reverse rotation of said driving shaft occurs and permitting projection of said pin during forward rotation of said driving shaft and said driven shaft.

2. In a clutch mechanism, a frame, a driving shaft journaled in said frame, means for rotating said driving shaft first in forward direction and then in reverse direction through a. predetermined angle, a suitably journaled driven shaft axially aligned with said driving shaft, a ratchet rigidly mounted on said driving shaft, a disk rigidly mounted on said driven shaft, a spring pressed pawl mounted on said disk and adapted to engage said ratchet to transmit forward rotation from said ratchet to said disk, an aperture in said disk, a pin mounted in said frame for longitudinal sliding movement, said pin being disposed parallel to said shafts and being adapted, when in projected position, to engage said aperture, a spring for projecting said pin, a helical cam rigidly mounted on said ratchet and adapted to normally hold said pin out of engagement with said aperture and to permit projection of said pin to engage said aperture at the termination of a forward rotation of said driving shaft, said aperture being aligned with said pin at the termination of said forward rotation, a member slidably mounted for radial movement with respect to said disk, resilient means for urging said member inwardly toward the edge of said disk, and a roller carried by said member and having an axis parallel to said shafts, the edge of said disk having a notch to receive said roller at the termination of a forward rotation, whereby, when said driving shaft is rotated first in a forward direction and then in a reverse direction, said forward rotation only will be impartedV to said driven shaft and further forward rotation of said driven shaft can only be effected after said reverse rotation of said driving shaft.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and said notch having one steep side to engage said roller to prevent reverse rotation of said disk and'one sloping side to cam said roller out of said notch against the pressure of said resilient means when said disk is rotated forwardly.

OTTO R. HERMANEK. 

